Rumsfeld: Iraq Toll Higher Than Expected

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040415/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq_military&cid=540&ncid=1480

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday the death toll of U.S. troops in recent fighting in Iraq (news - web sites) was higher than he had expected, acknowledging as he extended thousands of soldiers' duty tours that plans were having to be adjusted.

Rumsfeld described a decision to extend the tours of some 20,000 troops inside the country who had expected to go home soon.


"I certainly would not have estimated that we would have had the number of individuals lost that we have had lost in the last week," Rumsfeld said in answer to questions at the Pentagon (news - web sites).


Halfway through April, the month already is the deadliest of the war for the United States, with 88 U.S. soldiers killed in a surge of violence coming from multiple insurgent factions inside the country. Hundreds of Iraqis have been killed.

more

[KC21304]

1. Just for today I wanted to be there to ask him this question.

Speaking of the " terrorists " holding the hostages in Iraq, did you have them down for bringing flowers or were they the ones going to bring the candy ?

[arcane1]

2. got any grandkids, Donny?

They could sure use them over there...


asshole

[saigon68]

12. Here's your boss Donny

[drfemoe]

3. Related News

To: National Desk, Political Reporter
U.S.Newswire, 4/15/2004 17:23

WASHINGTON, April 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Sen. John Kerry released the following statement today in response to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's comment that ''people are fungible'':

''Secretary Rumsfeld's comment that 'people are fungible' is further indication of this Administration's continuing disregard for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in Iraq. Secretary Rumsfeld has it wrong. Troops are not chess pieces to be moved on a board, they are real people with families and loved ones who depend on them. From failing to provide our troops with adequate body and vehicle armor to breaking their commitment not to extend assignments beyond one year, this Administration has continually let them down. They deserve more than cold impersonal calculations when their tours are extended, they deserve compassion and understanding of the sacrifice they and their families are making for their country. Our troops are asked to serve in an action where the Administration can't even tell them what the plan is to move forward. They are key to our success in Iraq and deserve more from their leaders.''

Transcript of relevant section:

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I ask you about your opening statement? You said that the challenge in Fallujah is being contained and that the situation in the South is largely stabilized. and I wonder if that is the case, why, then is it necessary to keep extra troops in Iraq for 90 days?

RUMSFELD: Well, it is -- the reason it is contained is because we have the extra troops there. That is self-evident. Come on, people are fungible. You can have them here or there.

We have announced the judgment, it is clear, you understand it, everyone in the room understands that we needed additional -- The commander decided he'd like to retain in country an additional plus or minus 20,000 people and that is what we are doing.

(Rumsfeld News Conference, 4/15/04, approx. 2:45 p.m.)

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/106/wash/_To_National_Desk_Political_Re:.shtml

edit: alternate source for OP story >>
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/106/wash/Rumsfeld_says_U_S_death_toll_i:.shtml

[sweettater]

6. Could someone please

tell this person who could not find the word "fungible" in the dictionary just what the hell it means? :eyes:

[htuttle]

8. Fungible: ( 'funjubul )

Definition:
 
1)  a commodity that is freely interchangeable with another in satisfying an obligation

2)  (law) of goods or commodities; freely exchangeable for or replaceable by another of like nature or kind in the satisfaction of an obligation

http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/fungible

[sweettater]

13. Thank you

I learned a new word today :bounce: Amongst other things ;)

[drfemoe]

10. commodities

pawns, irrelevant, collateral, property, useful only to obtain objectives of the Imperials ...

We already knew they held this view. I'm glad JKerry called them on it.

[54anickel]

11. Had to look it up myself - here I thought it had something to do with

mushrooms - keep 'em in the dark and feed 'em BS :evilgrin:

1. Law. Returnable or negotiable in kind or by substitution, as a quantity of grain for an equal amount of the same kind of grain.
2. Interchangeable.

n.
Something that is exchangeable or substitutable. Often used in the plural.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fungible

[SalParadise]

4. no shit?

Less than HE expected, anyway I guess.

[Shakespeare]

5. Can someone please just slap the ever-loving shit out of that man?

He needs it. Badly.

[benburch]

7. If you slapped out all the S**t

There would be an empty skin left.

[Turbineguy]

9. Strange that he should say that

the DoD planners (remember the guys that said it would take 250,000 soldiers?) were estimating 3,000 dead. They also advised against invading. Of course, we know, all these people want to do is lollygag around the bar at the 'O' Club all afternoon.

That's why It's a good thing we had Wolfy and Rummy to straighten things out and come up with a good plan.

[Solly Mack]

14. Uh..how dumb could he be?

Lack of equipment..still. Prolonged deployments....24 hour shifts...and he expected the death toll to be smaller? What an idiot.

[seemslikeadream]

15. Was he talking about these people?

or these people?

*

"Our efforts to protect the wealth that belongs
to the Iraqi people are paying off."
— G. W. Bush
(Source: The Whitehouse)